Kota Kinabalu: City Hall plans to introduce a one-way traffic system in the heart of the city to improve the flow of traffic.

Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir (pic) said the implementation, which comes under City Hall's Traffic Management Plan, would be along the Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens stretch.

Based on the description by City Hall's head of Public Transport and Traffic Division Kelvin Leaw the flow of traffic along the stretch would be from Wawasan Plaza Roundabout to the roundabout entering Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman - behind Wisma Merdeka.

While the opposite direction will be from Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (in front of Wisma Merdeka) to Wawasan Plaza.

"It is still under its execution phase and comes under the initiative of the city building developers," he said.

This, he said will ease a lot of the traffic congestion in the area, where the project will include removing the road dividers and pedestrian walkways expanded to allow for for more room.

Meanwhile, City Hall's bus stops are being solar-powered in stages.

It has already equipped 55 of its new bus stops with the capability and the plans are to install similar capabilities on 10 more new taxi stands.

"City Hall is spending around RM5,000 to equip each with solar-power and my hope is that these facilities will not be vandalised," Madingkir said, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the first solar taxi stand in the country by the Kota Kinabalu Teo Chew Association, here.

On another note, he said over 90 per cent of federal-funded bus terminal at the Wawasan Bus Terminal Complex has been completed while the other terminal had just started piling work.

Madingkir said the second terminal, which is a City Hall-private funded, will only be completed sometime in 2016.

When both the terminals are completed operations will commence, becoming the final pick up and drop off point for the mini bus services.

"They (mini buses) will no longer be allowed into the city centre and commuters will have to continue their journey into the city centre on the City Bus shuttle service," said Madingkir.

The mini buses will continue their operations from the Southbound, Northbound and Eastbound bus terminals, located in Kepayan, Inanam and Penampang respectively.

Meawhile, as part of its social responsibility initiative, the Kota Kinabalu Teo Chew Association would construct the first solar powered taxi stand in Kampung Air, here.

Its groundbreaking ceremony, held here on Saturday was also done in conjunction with the installation ceremony of its committee members, and is expected to be completed in two months.

Its President, Chua Soon Ping said they will ensure every step of the construction process will use minimal raw materials from nature, while stressing his role of being an advocate of the environment and sustainability.

Furthermore it will incorporate the use of a solar thin film to harness the energy of the sun, he said.

"We offer City Hall the use of this technology," he said during the installation ceremony held two hours after the groundbreaking ceremony, here.

The solar powered taxi stand will cost around RM200,000, with part of the material costs being shared by several companies under their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

"It is a gesture (by the companies) that illustrates that they are also doing their part in preserving mother earth," he said. Once completed the durable solar sheet can fully charge the batteries in under three hours, and its power can last up to four days without adequate sunlight.

More than 100 taxi drivers will likely benefit from the rebuilt taxi stand which will also be equipped with plug points to charge handphones and others.

Meanwhile, the association's main committee members conducted their oath swearing and installation ceremonies witnessed by the Sabah and Labuan Teo Chew Association President Datuk Edward Khoo.